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First Paid Wedding...Please Read
I was asked to do my best friends wedding when they got engaged. Of course, I was more than thrilled about doing it. Their wedding day was May 18th. I had plenty of time to be ready, and I was prepared for the wedding. What I wasn't prepared for was what started the I would say a couple of days before the wedding. I lost my appetite, and I figured it was just nerves. I always get nervous before I do a shoot. Then the day before the wedding I was sent home from work sick. I was running a fever and coughing so bad I couldn't see. I convinced myself that it was the 24 hour flew bug my mom had. I went home and took tylenol and cough medicine and slept all day. The morning of the wedding I woke up to my fever breaking. And I was coughing a lot less then I was. I drank some hot herbal tea to help soothe the rest of the cough and got myself around. I got there right on time to get the pictures of my best friend and her bride's maids getting ready for the big event. We got to the church and got everything set up to do pictures before the wedding of the bride, bridal party, and her family. I got the pictures of the church, outside and in. I kept having to stop though to catch my breath and keep myself from coughing. I managed to get all the shots I wanted at the wedding, but when it came to the reception, I felt so drained and I couldn't stop couging. I got pictures of them cutting the cake and feeding each other, and managed to work my way around and get some of their guests. Her dad finally told me I was looking a little pale and made me sit down. I couldn't breathe, my chest felt so heavy. I kept coughing. I finally excused myself towards the end of the reception. I drove to my mom's house which was 10 minutes away, I kept blacking out and I must say I was getting scared. My mom took me to ER and I found out I had a severe case of bronchitis. I'm now on a breathing treatment every four hours, an antibiotic, and best rest through Tuesday. Now my question is, what is the best way to handle a situation like that?
Jenni
P.S. By the way, the wedding and reception pictures turned out perfect. I was a bit suprised :clap
Jenni
P.S. By the way, the wedding and reception pictures turned out perfect. I was a bit suprised :clap
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I have two personal friends who have shot a handful of weddings in the past, and would agree to shooting for my (current) prices. Their styles are completely different, however. AND, more than likely, the chances of them being available with <24 hours notice is iffy. People do have lives, and a wedding is a major weekend time commitment.
How do other seasoned professionals handle this? Would you really let an assistant shoot an entire wedding without you if you were hospitalized or otherwise?
Great topic, Jenni, and I think you handled the situation most professionally and were very fortunate to get the wedding in without collapsing! Hope you're feelin better!
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The one thing I could not have done was cancel at last notice. A wedding is such a big thing in any woman's life. There was no way I was going to let my friend down. We got through it and she called me yesterday happily on her honeymoon. Her and her husband can't wait to get home, I'll have all their pictures printed for them when they get here. Please, keep the advice coming everyone. It's what I love about Dgrin
I had the same thing happen to me, except that the moment I felt something coming on, I got checked out by my doctor who assured that I wouldn't be a health hazard to the guests if I was diligent about the antibiotics he prescribed.
Be vigilent about getting appropriate rest, nutrition, and whatever else you know you need to be your best.
I probably would have done the same thing: pumped myself full of drugs and toughed out the day. Then learned that having a backup for myself is as important as for the camera gear.
I actually was on the other end of this kind of situation for my own wedding. A close friend of my wife's was a former wedding phtoographer, and we had her shoot our wedding as her gift. Well, it turns out she was sick that day & we didn't catch on until early in the reception. At that point we insisted she go home; her health was more important than a few more photos.
http://www.chrislaudermilkphoto.com/